As we continue from where we left off at Part One, the hits on jig were consistent as compared to the much slower surface action. We then persisted with jigs and got some pretty good fish in the boat although quite a handful were also lost when they managed to power home and free.
Tsurusaki-san is known for his unorthodox rod concepts like
the quad-frog casting rod made famous in the Legend series
of DVDs featuring Japan Snakehead fishing. Specially
made for this trip, here's a double jig contraption.
of DVDs featuring Japan Snakehead fishing. Specially
made for this trip, here's a double jig contraption.
More for laughs than anything else!
It doesn't disappoint as a GT duly obliges by falling for
one of the two FCL SL jigs...
Note the eerily calm waters as we hook up big on thePoseidon Spin Jerker PE-4 outfit...
A nice 26kg Dogtooth Tuna on the Shout! Shab Shab jig...
Then another tough fish was on when the fave Fisherman
Andaman jig was hit, here's it made to look small in the
mouth of this GT...
This forties fish would be the highlight of the trip, but there
were many more which could've been...
The new FT jig by FCL Labo scores consistently. This nice
Amberjack from one of the deeper spots...
Here's a beautiful Long-nose Emperor on the Shout! Width jig...
We then broke for lunch and it was back to tiddler fishing
with the IMA Gunpekis...
Trigger after trigger...
Broke out the Bassday Nin Cas mini-madai and it scored too...
It even fooled this hard fighting Rainbow Runner. Great
fun on the Majorcraft KG Lights rod!
Another Goatfish on the Nin Cas...
Light jigs like the IMA Guns account for some nice fish
in the shallows like this Doggie too...
The beautifully marked Red Throat Grouper fights hard too...
In the deeper reefs the Long-nose Emperor is a prized specie
and always welcome onboard. This guy took an SL jig in
an exciting new colour configuration...
We persevered with the topwater lures but results weren't
encouraging with Cudas like this on the CSP...
Things got slightly better but even so they were just
middling GTs like this that fell to the CSP...
So it was back to jigging which never failed to produce.
FCL FT jig with a deep-dwelling Snapper specie...
More bottom dwelling fish and this was a beauty, a big
Long-nose Emperor which fell for this FCL MSL jig...
Small Doggie on the Fisherman Andaman...
Followed by a more decent one, which turned out to be the
biggest Dogtooth of the trip in its thirties...
Fell for the Fisherman Andaman, a jig that needs no
introduction. It was also an easy task for the brute stick
that is the Poseidon Spin Jerker...
Schoolie Yellowfin tuna on the FT jig...
Amongst the Doggie barrage we hit a wall of red. These
Ruby Snappers hit deep and are spirited fighters. This
one hit an FCL SL jig...
Mixed in were some Rosy Jobfishes too, like this nice one
on an FT jig...
Still we hit the odd Doggie, this was a nice specimen in the
teens on the FCL SL jig...
There were Yellowfins thrown in too!
It was a real smorgasboard as you never knew what you
would hit next on the drop. Big Rosies like this on the SL
were real hard fighters too...
Another nice Ruby Snapper on the Shout! Width jig...
A smaller Ruby on the FCL SL jig...
The FT jig scores too with this nice Ruby...
Add to that the omnipresent Doggies and it was a really fun
session which lasted till sunset...
Tired and fulfilled, we left the fishes alone at night and just
enjoyed being out in the middle of nowhere...
In daylight however, there was no shortage of action. Doggies
were always around and the sheer abundance was a
revelation. The FCL SL jig is super consistent with
many hits one after the other...
revelation. The FCL SL jig is super consistent with
many hits one after the other...
Schoolie Yellowfin Tuna hits the deck, victim of the SL as well...
A nice Amberjack, or what's left. Shout! Width did the trick...
Another epic GT battle on jig results in this good thirties fish
hitting the deck. Smiles all round!
Shout! Width jig did it again! Gaining quite a repertoire in
the process...
Meanwhile the SL jigs were pulling the Dogs consistently...
We were hitting good average sized fish and it was thrills aplenty...
The obscure looking FCL Labo Nata jig did well too with this
Doggie...
With reef in sight the odd cast would get smashed though not
consistently. This GT liked the Maggy Gara popper it saw!
Back to the Doggies with another on the SL...
This Amberjack was a real tough fighter which we called for a
big Dogtooth and after a pretty long fight gave all onboard a
pleasant surprise. It was a big specimen for this tropical
High-fin species and it took the Fisherman Marado jig
worked hard and fast way off the bottom...
Tsurusaki and his tandem jig rod is at it again. However,
it was really difficult to get two hits simultaneously...
It was a Doggie which fell for the MSL jig, a fatter version
of the SL...
Followed again by another Dogtooth on the other MSL...
Marado loving Dog...
Back to the FT jig and it scores this nice Amberjack...
Another SL loving Doggie...
Between pelagics there's always a chance for a nice surpriselike this beautiful Maori Seaperch, one of the most stunning
fishes on the reef. Victim of the FCL SL jig too, worked with
a prototype high-lift long overhead jig rod...
Shallow bashing with the DUO Larus Project minnow and
a nice Peacock Hind...
A mixed bag of reefies on the DUO Ikakko...
A nice Long-nose Emperor from the deeper edge of the reef...
Followed by another lovely Maori Seaperch on the SL jig...
Two cousins of the Snapper family on the DUO Ikakko...
A rare deep dwelling Cod specie on the FCL SL jig...
Then we had a great time in the shallows with small Trevallies
on ultralight gear and mini jigs like this Mametai...
A colourful Trigger on the Jackall Bros Mametai...
A Red-throat Grouper on the same jig...
And some disctinct Goatfishes showing the biodiversity...
With some breeze the surface action picked up and first to
score was this small GT on the prototype FCL popper...
Followed by a better one on the pre-production sample...
The fish to end the trip was a Red Bass that fell for the new
black CSP 200...
Though it wasn't the mad topwater trip we anticipated, it was
the journey, the camaraderie and overall fun factor that
made it an experience to cherish. It would take us another
few days of travelling to return home but it was worth
the effort...
made it an experience to cherish. It would take us another
few days of travelling to return home but it was worth
the effort...
As we split ways at the airport there were already
more adventures in the pipeline. Looking forward to it!
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